Police shoot, kill fleeing suspect

A Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police officer shot and killed a man in eastside Savannah around 4 p.m. Wednesday after a short foot chase, according to police and the victim's family members.

That death came about 15 hours after another suspect police were pursuing was shot and taken to Memorial Health University Medical Center. Chief Michael Berkow said at a 9 a.m. news conference that an SCMPD officer might be responsible for shooting Nathaniel Black, 24, but the shooting likely was justified.

However, police put off a news conference and did not issue a statement until 11 p.m. Wednesday about the death of Anthony Smashum, 41, who was killed in the second shooting. Family members said he was shot twice - once in the back, and once in leg.

Police spokesman Sgt. Mike Wilson said at the scene Wednesday afternoon that details in the case were "too fluid" to discuss at the time.

At 9 p.m., SCMPD command staff and an assistant district attorney were still in a closed-door meeting at police headquarters.

At 11 p.m., police issued a prepared statement that said officers were dispatched to the eastside area to arrest Smashum on a warrant. A fight ensued, and Smashum attempted to escape into the yard of a private house, climbing a fence. During this encounter, Officer Antonio Taharka fired his weapon, according to the statement.

Family members Wednesday night said they did not believe Smashum was carrying a weapon when police confronted him. Police made no mention in the news release about whether Smashum was armed.

The mother of Smashum's children, Brenda Osborne, said she was with Smashum when several SCMPD officers tried to question him Wednesday afternoon near a convenience store at 39th Street and Waters Avenue.

She said Smashum ran when a female officer tried to ask him questions. Osborne watched the other officers chase him for a short distance.

She yelled for him to stay put and not run, but Smashum apparently ignored her.

"I went back to my house to put my things inside, and I went back to the area, and that's when I heard the shots," Osborne said.

Osborne said she hoped, even after the shots and after Smashum was in the ambulance, that he would be OK.

"I never thought it was going to get to that point," Osborne said. "I just thought they might arrest him."

Wednesday, as news of the death spread, neighbors and friends gathered on the Smashum's front porch. They wanted answers from the police.

"I just don't understand how this could have happened," Marie Smashum said. "I want to know what led to this, what made it get to this point."

Officer Taharka is on administrative leave while a criminal investigation and an administrative investigation are under way, which is standard procedure, according to the police statement.

The department remained silent on Smashum's shooting for nearly seven hours. That silence stood in contrast with the discussion of a separate morning shooting that involved a police officer.

Different shooting, different story

At the morning news conference, Berkow said Officer Chris Talley engaged in a gunfight with Nathaniel Black and an unknown suspect. However, it was not clear whether Talley's bullet was the one that struck Black.

But, Berkow said, even if an internal investigation finds that Officer Chris Talley did shoot and critically injure Black, the officer was justified, and Talley's actions exemplified good policing.

Police said they are certain that Black and an unknown individual inside a Pontiac sedan exchanged gunfire with others in a Chevy Avalanche pickup at the corner of Montgomery Street and DeRenne Avenue around 3 a.m. Police saw the vehicles engaged in a "gun battle," Berkow said, and then gave chase.

Officer Chris Talley, on his way to an unrelated call, heard the radio traffic and decided to wait on Waters Avenue to watch for the suspects. Just as Talley had hoped, the suspect's car showed up about 10 minutes later.

Talley pursued the car, which crashed into a tree at Waters Avenue and Bolton Street.

Berkow said both men emerged from the vehicle and started shooting at Talley. The officers returned fire. Both suspects fled, but police were able to catch Black, who had suffered a chest wound. He later was listed in critical condition at Memorial Health.

Berkow said it was possible his officer shot Black, but it was too early to be certain.

"We're not sure if he was shot by our officer or during the earlier gunfight, or by (the other occupant of the vehicle)," Berkow said. "We simply don't have the forensics yet."

Talley was being questioned Wednesday morning, but Berkow said action was not likely to be taken because it would be "easy" for investigators to clear Talley in both cases.

"He's going to be placed on administrative leave for a period of time, which is standard operating practice while we assemble information," Berkow said. "Officer Talley is doing very well. He's actually quite thoughtful and reflective about the matter.

"Officer Talley showed good police work. He was a proactive investigator."